Resource allocation method and a method for transmitting/receiving resource allocation information in mobile communication system

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, a user equipment for use in a mobile communication system is configured to; receive control information including a first field and a second field via a control channel, the first field indicating one of N (N≧2) resource block group (RBG) sets and the second field including a bitmap, wherein each bit of the bitmap is used to indicate whether a corresponding resource block (RB) in the indicated one of the N RBG sets is allocated; interpret the first field and the second field for resource allocation in the control information; and receive data using the control information. An RBG set n (0≦n&lt;N) includes every N th  RBG starting from n th  RBG, an RBG includes one or more consecutive RBs, and an RB includes a plurality of consecutive subcarriers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/523,696, filed on Jul. 17, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,630,242, which is the National Stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International App. No. PCT/KR2008/001546, filed on Mar. 19, 2008, which claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2008-0025480, filed on Mar. 19, 2008, and 10-2007-0089202, filed on Sep. 3, 2007, and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 60/895,709, filed on Mar. 19, 2007, 60/915,099, filed on Apr. 30, 2007, 60/945,585, filed on Jun. 21, 2007, and 60/978,398, filed on Oct. 8, 2007, the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system, and more particularly to a resource allocation method and a method for transmitting/receiving resource allocation information in a mobile communication system.

BACKGROUND ART

In a mobile communication system, a scheduling method for data transmission, that is, a resource allocation method is divided into a frequency diversity scheduling (FDS) method for obtaining reception on capability gain using frequency diversity and a frequency selective scheduling (FSS) method for obtaining reception capability gain using frequency selective scheduling.

In the FDS method, a transmitter transmits a data packet via subcarriers, which are widely distributed in a system frequency domain, such that symbols within the data packet are subjected to a variety of radio channel fading. Accordingly, the whole data packet is prevented from being subjected to disadvantageous fading and thus reception capability is improved.

In contrast, in the FSS method, a data packet is transmitted via one or a plurality of consecutive frequency domains, which is in an advantageous fading state, in a system frequency domain such that reception capability is improved.

Actually, in a cellular OFDM radio packet communication system, a plurality of user equipments exist in a cell and radio channel states of the user equipments have different characteristics. Accordingly, even in a subframe, data transmission using the FDS method needs to be performed with respect to any user equipment and data transmission using the FSS method needs to be performed with respect to the other user equipments. Accordingly, it is preferable that the FDS transmission method and the FSS transmission method are efficiently multiplexed in the subframe.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a resource allocation method and a method for transmitting/receiving resource allocation information in a mobile communication system that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies on an efficient resource allocation method.

Another object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies on a method for transmitting resource allocation information according to an efficient resource allocation method.

The object of the present invention can be achieved by providing a method for receiving resource allocation information in mobile communication system, the method including: receiving first information which indicates a resource block group set and second information which is a bitmap indicating whether or not to allocate resource block included in the resource block group set via a control channel; identifying allocated resource block from the first information and the second information; and receiving data using the allocated resource block.

The first information may indicate one among one or more resource block group set.

The resource block group set may include one or more resource block group.

The resource block group may include one or more consecutive resource block according to the number of resource blocks included in a subframe.

The number of the resource block group set may correspond with the number of resource block included in the resource block group.

The number of resource blocks included in the resource block group set may correspond with the number of resource block group.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is a method for transmitting resource allocation information in mobile communication system, the method including: constructing a control channel including first information which indicates resource allocation type and second information which is a bitmap indicating whether or not to allocate at least part of resource blocks included in a subframe according to the resource allocation type; transmitting the control channel to a scheduled User Equipment; and transmitting data associated with the control channel to the scheduled User Equipment.

The resource allocation type may indicate at least one of a group scheduling type and a part-bitmap scheduling type.

The bitmap may indicate a resource block that is allocated to the scheduled User Equipment among one or more resource block included in a resource block group set, in a case that the resource allocation type is the part-bitmap scheduling type.

The resource block group set may include one or more resource block group.

The resource block group may include one or more consecutive resource block.

The control channel may further include third information which indicates one among one or more resource block group set.

The bitmap may indicate a resource block group that is allocated to the scheduled User Equipment, in a case that the resource allocation type is the group scheduling type.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is a method for receiving resource allocation information in mobile communication system, the method including: receiving information of virtual resource block which comprises a part of each of one or more resource block in a subframe; identifying allocated resource block from the information of virtual resource block; and receiving data using at least part of the allocated resource block according to the information of virtual resource block.

The information of virtual resource block may include information of the one or more resource block and information which indicates one or more among one or more virtual resource block comprised by the one or more resource block.

The information of virtual resource block may include information of the number of the one or more resource block and information of the number of one or more virtual resource block comprised by the one or more resource block and information which indicates one or more among the one or more virtual resource block.

Advantageous Effects

By applying a radio resource allocation method and the construction and the transmission/reception method of resource allocation information disclosed in the present specification, a FSS method and a PDS method are efficiently combined so as to perform scheduling.

By applying the radio resource allocation method and the construction and the transmission method of the resource allocation information disclosed in the present specification, it is possible to reduce the number of bits for transmitting the resource allocation information.

In addition, by using a DVRB construction method disclosed in the present specification, it is possible to randomize interference between cells for transmission of data to user equipments so as to optimize system efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a scheduling resource block unit;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a group scheduling method using a localized virtual resource block (LVRB);

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an example of a part-bitmap scheduling method using a LVRB according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a part-bitmap scheduling information construction method using a LVRB according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of a method for constructing a distributed virtual resource block (DVRB) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of a scheduling information construction method with respect to scheduling using a DVRB according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of a scheduling information construction method with respect to scheduling using a DVRB according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of a method for constructing a DVRB according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of a scheduling information construction method with respect to scheduling using a DVRB according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of a method for constructing different DVRBs with respect to cells according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of a physical resource block (PRB) selection method used for transmission of different DVRBs with respect to cells according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a method for multiplexing transmission using a DVRB and transmission using a LVRB in a subframe and transmitting the multiplexed signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a scheduling resource block unit.

In a mobile communication system, an uplink/downlink data packet is transmitted in the unit of a subframe and a subframe may be defined by a predetermined time period including a plurality of OFDM symbols. In the present specification, the following terms are defined for convenience of description of technology.

A resource element (RE) is a smallest frequency-time unit in which a modulation symbol of data or control channel is mapped. If a signal is transmitted via M subcarriers in an OFDM symbol and N OFDM symbols in a subframe, M×N REs may exist in the subframe.

A physical resource block (PRB) is a frequency-time resource unit for transmitting data. In general, a PRB is composed of consecutive REs in a frequency-time domain and a plurality of PRBs are defined in a subframe.

A virtual resource block (VRB) is a virtual resource unit for transmitting data. In general, the number of REs included in a VRB is equal to the number of REs included in a PRB. In actual data transmission, a VRB may be mapped to a PRB or a VRB may be mapped to parts of a plurality of PRBs.

A localized virtual resource block (LVRB) is a type of VRB. A LVRB is mapped to a PRB, and PRBs to which different LVRBs are not mapped to a same PRB. The LVRB may be interpreted as the PRB. Here, a PRB to which the LVRB is mapped may be called a PRB for a LVRB.

A distributed virtual resource block (DVRB) is a type of the VRB. A DVRB is mapped to some REs in a plurality of PRBs, and different DVRBs are not mapped to same REs. Here, a PRB used for a DVRB construction may be called a PRB for DVRB.

A base station performs scheduling for transmission of downlink data to a specific user equipment or transmission of uplink data from the specific user equipment to the base station via one or a plurality of VRBs in a subframe. At this time, the base station should inform the user equipment of information indicating via which downlink VRB the data is transmitted when the downlink data is transmitted to the specific user equipment and inform the user equipment of information indicating via which uplink VRB the data can be transmitted in order to allow the specific user equipment to transmit the uplink data.

In an actual system, data transmission using the LVRB and data transmission using the DVRB may be made together in a subframe. At this time, in order to prevent the data transmission using the LVRB and the data transmission using the DVRB from colliding in the same RE, it is preferable that the data transmission using the DVRB and the data transmission using the LVRB use different PRBs in a subframe.

In other words, the PRBs in the subframe may be divided into PRBs for the LVRB and PRBs for the DVRB as described above. In the case that the data transmission using the LVRB and the data transmission using the DVRB are made together in a subframe, the specific user equipment may be informed of whether the VRB used for transmission/reception of the uplink/downlink data is the LVRB or the DVRB.

Hereinafter, first, a data transmission method using a LVRB and a method for transmitting scheduling information will be described.

If N_(LVRB) LVRBs exist in a subframe, a base station performs uplink/downlink scheduling according to the data transmission method using the LVRB by using the N_(LVRB) LVRBs with respect to at least one user equipment.

Then, N_(LVRB)-bit bitmap information is transmitted to the user equipment so as to inform the user equipment of information indicating via which LVRB the downlink data is transmitted or information indicating via which LVRB the uplink data can be transmitted. That is, each bit in the N_(LVRB)-bit bitmap information represents data transmission information with respect to each of the N_(LVRB) LVRBs.

For example, in the N_(LVRB)-bit bitmap information, with respect to the LVRB used for transmission/reception of the uplink/downlink data to/from the user equipment, a bit for the LVRB is set to 1 and, with respect to the LVRB which is not used for transmission/reception of the uplink/downlink data to/from the user equipment, a bit for the LVRB is set to 0. The user equipment which receives the N_(LVRB)-bit bitmap information constructed by this method can receive the downlink data or transmit the uplink data using the LVRB which is set to 1 in the N_(LVRB)-bit bitmap information.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a group scheduling method using a LVRB.

In a case that the number of LVRBs which exist in a subframe is large, the base station uses too many downlink resources for informing the user equipment of the N_(LVRB)-bits bitmap information. At this time, NLV LVRBs are divided into N_(group) LVRB groups such that data is transmitted/received in the unit of a LVRB group. Thus, it is possible to reduce number of downlink resources which are used at the time of the transmission of the bitmap information.

That is, in the transmission of the data in the unit of the LVRB group, the base station informs the user equipment of the N_(group)-bit bitmap information of the N_(group) LVRB groups instead of the N_(LVRB)-bit bitmap information of the LVRBs (N_(group)<N_(LVRB)).

In addition, if the LVRB is used for transmitting/receiving the data by the FSS method, it is advantageous that the data is transmitted using consecutive subcarriers in a frequency domain in the FSS method. Accordingly, each of the LVRB groups is composed of consecutive PRBs in the frequency domain. This method is called a group scheduling method in the present invention.

In FIG. 2, a subframe is composed of 48 PRBs and each PRB is mapped to a LVRB. At this time, three LVRBs are combined to construct a LVRB group such that 16 LVRB groups exist in the subframe. Accordingly, the base station informs a specific user equipment of an area in which downlink data is transmitted to the specific user equipment or an area in which the specific user equipment can transmit uplink data, via 16-bit bitmap information.

However, if the data is transmitted in the unit of the LVRB group, N_(group) LVRBs are used for even transmission of a small amount of data such that a frequency-time resource is wasted. If consecutive N_(group) LVRBs in the frequency domain become a basic data transmission unit, it is difficult to efficiently perform data transmission using the FDS method.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, in order to reduce the resources necessary for informing the user equipment of the LVRB via which the data is transmitted while the data can be transmitted in the unit of the LVRB instead of the unit of the LVRB group, a method for informing the user equipment whether or not the data can be transmitted via the LVRBs, via the LVRB-unit bitmap information only with respect to a part of all the LVRBs in the subframe is suggested.

The user equipment which is allocated with the LVRB for transmission/reception of the data can transmit/receive the data via the LVRBs belonging to a LVRB set with respect to a subframe. This method is called a part-bitmap scheduling method in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an example of a part-bitmap scheduling method using a LVRB according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, when N_(LVRB) LVRBs exist in a subframe, a part of all the LVRBs in the subframe is defined as a LVRB set. In other words, N_(LVRB) _(—) _(part) LVRB sets (N_(LVRB) _(—) _(part)<N_(LVRB)) are previously defined.

Here, the LVRB set may be constructed by various methods. At an upper side of FIG. 3, a LVRB group or a LVRB set may be defined in association with a set construction method and a group construction method for applying the group scheduling method shown as an example. If the LVRB set is defined in consideration of the LVRB group construction method for applying the group scheduling method, the group scheduling method and the part-bitmap scheduling method can be used to be compatible with each other. Thus, flexible scheduling is possible. Hereinafter, two methods for constructing the LVRB set in consideration of the LVRB group construction method will be described as embodiments.

In a first method, like the part-bitmap scheduling method 1 of FIG. 3, a LVRB set is defined so as to include a plurality of LVRB groups used for the group scheduling method, and more particularly, inconsecutive LVRB groups in the frequency domain. According to this method, a plurality of LVRBs in the LVRB group may be allocated to a user equipment. Accordingly, all the LVRBs in the LVRB group can be used by the part-bitmap scheduling for a small number of user equipments.

In a second method, a LVRB set is composed of LVRBs which are separated from each other at a predetermined PRB interval in the frequency domain. Like the part-bitmap scheduling method 2 of FIG. 3, a LVRB set may be constructed so as to include a LVRB belonging to each LVRB group. This method is advantageous in that, when the part-bitmap scheduling method is used for the data transmission using the FDS method, the data can be transmitted/received to/from a user equipment by only the LVRBs which are separated from each other in the frequency domain.

In the part-bitmap scheduling method, the LVRB sets may be constructed by the two above-described methods, which are only exemplary. The LVRB sets may be constructed by various methods.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a part-bitmap scheduling information construction method using a LVRB according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The scheduling information construction examples shown in FIG. 4 represent a scheduling information construction of a user equipment and more particularly a scheduling information construction which can be transmitted to a user equipment which is scheduled using the LVRB.

In the present embodiment, as described above, it is assumed that, when N_(LVRB) LVRBs exist in a subframe, a part of all the LVRBs in a subframe are defined as a LVRB set.

At an upper side of FIG. 4, a scheduling information construction method when the LVRB set is defined so as to perform scheduling is shown. As shown at the upper side of FIG. 4, the base station may inform the user equipments of information indicating via which LVRB the user equipments receive or transmit the data, using LVRB set information 40 indicating to which LVRB set a bitmap corresponds and N_(LVRB) _(—) _(part)-bit bitmap information 41 indicating whether or not data can be transmitted via the LVRBs in the LVRB set.

It is assumed that the user equipment which receives scheduling information knows that the LVRB is allocated via broadcasting information or scheduling information. Accordingly, the scheduling information shown at the upper side of FIG. 4 is received such that it can be checked in which set an available LVRB is included, using the LVRB set information 40. Subsequently, the N_(LVRB) _(—) _(part)-bit bitmap 41 is received such that it can be checked which LVRB in the set checked via the LVRB set information 40 is available.

At a lower side of FIG. 4, as described above, the scheduling information construction method when a LVRB group and a LVRB set are associated with each other such that the group scheduling method and the part-bitmap scheduling method can be used to be compatible with each other is shown.

As shown at the lower side of FIG. 4, the base station informs the user equipments of information indicating via which LVRB the user equipments receive or transmit the data, via group/set indicating information 42 indicating whether bitmap information is bitmap information for the LVRB group or bitmap information for LVRB set, LVRB set information 43 indicating to which LVRB set the bitmap corresponds when the bitmap information is the bitmap information for the LVRB set, and N_(bitmap)-bit bitmap information 44 indicating whether or not data for the LVRB group can be transmitted or whether or not data for LVRBs in the LVRB set can be transmitted.

It is assumed that the user equipment which receives the scheduling information knows that the LVRB is allocated via broadcasting information or scheduling information. The user equipment receives the scheduling information shown at the lower side of FIG. 4 so as to check whether subsequent bitmap information is bitmap information for the LVRB group or bitmap information for the LVRBs in the set via the group/set indicating information.

If the group/set indicating information 42 indicates the set, it can be checked which set an available LVRB is included via the LVRB set information 43. Subsequently, the N_(bitmap)-bit bitmap information 44 is received such that it can be checked which LVRB in the set checked via the LVRB set information 43 is available. Similarly, if the group/set indicating information 42 indicates the group, it can be checked which LVRB is available via the N_(bitmap)-bit bitmap information 44.

As another embodiment of the case where the group scheduling method and the part-bitmap scheduling method can be used to be compatible with each other, as shown at the lower side of FIG. 4, the group/set indicating information 42 are not transmitted as separate bit information and may be transmitted as an element of the LVRB set information 40 described with reference to the embodiment shown at the upper side of FIG. 4. For example, if three LVRB sets exist, 00 indicates that the bitmap information is the bitmap information for the LVRB group and 01, 10 and 11 are set to indicate the LVRB set information such that it is indicated that the bitmap information is the bitmap information for the LVRB set. That is, 01, 10 and 11 may be set to indicate the LVRB set 1, the LVRB set 2 and the LVRB set 3, respectively.

As described above, if the LVRB group and the LVRB set are associated with each other, it is possible to freely allocate data. In particular, at this time, it is preferable that N_(bitmap)=N_(LVRB) _(—) _(part)=N_(group) is satisfied. If N_(bitmap)=N_(LVRB) _(—) _(part)=N_(group) is satisfied, bitmap information having a predetermined or fixed size may be used.

Among the data transmission methods, in the FSS method, since the data is transmitted using the consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain, it is more efficient that the data is transmitted using the LVRB. If the present embodiment is used, the amount of scheduling information can be reduced and scheduling can be performed by a combination of the FSS method and the FDS method. Accordingly, a transmission resource can be more efficiently used.

Up to now, the data transmission method using the LVRB and the method for transmitting the scheduling information were described.

Hereinafter, the data transmission method using the DVRB and the method for transmitting the scheduling information will be described.

The data transmission using the FDS method via a small number of VRBs cannot be efficiently performed by the group scheduling method or the part-bitmap scheduling method. For example, in a case where the part-bitmap scheduling method is applied when a data packet is transmitted via a VRB, the data packet can be transmitted via only a single LVRB. Accordingly, the data packet is transmitted by the consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain such that a frequency diversity gain cannot be obtained. Thus, in the present embodiment, two methods for efficiently performing the data transmission using the FDS method are suggested.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of a method for constructing a DVRB according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, REs included in NDa PRBs for the DVRB are combined so as to construct Nmv, DVRBs. In this method, a DVRB is constructed so as to include a specific amount of REs in each PRB belonging to Nvnm PRBs. FIG. 5 shows an example of combining REs included in four PRBs for the DVRB so as to construct four DVRBs. That is, in FIG. 5, a DVRB is constructed so as to include five REs in each PRB belonging to four PRBs for the DVRB.

At this time, when the data packet is transmitted via one or a plurality of DVRBs, a frequency diversity gain can be obtained. The base station can combine a predetermined number of PRBs and construct a DVRB via which data can be transmitted/received to/from a specific user equipment, for the FDS transmission/reception method. The user equipments may be informed of the PRB for the DVRB which will be used for data transmission/reception using the DVRB, how the DVRBs are constructed in the PRBs for the DVRB, and via which of DVRBs the data is transmitted/received.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of a scheduling information construction method with respect to scheduling using a DVRB according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described with reference to FIG. 5, scheduling information, which can be transmitted from the base station when a method for combining REs included in N_(DVRB) PRBs for the DVRB so as to construct the N_(DVRB) DVRBs is used, will be described. In this case, in the present invention, when the base station transmits/receives the data to/from any user equipment via the DVRB in any subframe, a method for informing the user equipment of the following information is suggested. That is, FIG. 6 shows scheduling information of a user equipment.

First, the user equipment is informed of PRB information for the DVRB 60 including the REs constructing the DVRB via which the data is transmitted/received to/from the user equipment. For example, the PRB information for the DVRB 60 may become index information of PRBs or bitmap information for identifying the PRBs.

The base station may indirectly inform the user equipment how the DVRBs are constructed via the PRB information for the DVRB 60 including the REs constructing the DVRB. For example, if the base station informs the user equipment of three PRBs used for transmission/reception of the data to/from the user equipment, the user equipment estimates that the REs in each PRB are divided into three groups and three DVRBs to which a RE group is mapped are defined in three PRBs.

In particular, it is assumed that, when the indexes of the PRBs are informed, N_(max) PRBs can be used in the DVRB construction as a maximum. At this time, if N_(used) (smaller than N_(max)) PRBs are used, the indexes of the PRBs actually used are repeatedly placed at the remaining PRB index bits excluding bits indicating the indexes of the N_(used) PRBs. If the indexes of the PRBs actually used are repeatedly informed using the remaining bits, the user equipment may be informed of how many PRBs are used without separate information.

In other words, although the base station does not inform the user equipment of information indicating how many PRBs are used, the user equipment can estimate how many PRBs are used. For example, if the repeated indexes of the PRBs are not present, it may be estimated that N_(max) PRBs are used. If the repeated indexes of the PRBs are present, it is checked whether the indexes of N_(repeat) PRBs are repeated such that it is estimated that N_(used) PRBs are actually used by N_(used)=N_(max)−N_(repeat).

In more detail, the indexes of the PRBs actually used are collectively placed at N_(used) PRB index bits in a start part or an end part of the PRB information for the DVRB 60. If the indexes of the PRBs actually used are collectively transmitted to the start part or the end part of the PRB information 60, the receiver easily distinguishes between the indexes of the PRBs actually used and the indexes of the repeated PRBs such that the scheduling information can be more efficiently transmitted/received.

In addition, in a case that the bitmap information or the indexes of the PRBs for the DVRB which will be used for the DVRB transmission is informed, the bitmap information or the indexes of the PRBs which is constructed with respect to some PRB sets may be informed instead of the bitmap or the indexes of all the PRBs which exist in a system band, in order to reduce a necessary bit number.

In other words, if the indexes of the PRBs are informed, the indexes allocated to the PRBs for the DVRB belonging to a specific set or group among the PRBs used in the DVRB construction or the PRBs for the DVRB used in the DVRB construction may be informed, instead of the indexes allocated to all the PRBs included in a subframe.

Even when the bitmap information is informed, the indexes allocated to the PRBs for the DVRB belonging to a specific set or group among the PRBs used in the DVRB construction or the PRBs for the DVRB used in the DVRB construction may be informed, instead of the indexes allocated to all the PRBs included in a subframe.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of a scheduling information construction method with respect to scheduling using a DVRB according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In particular, in a case that the indexes of the PRBs constructing a DVRB (or information of any format, which can sequentially indicate the indexes of the PRBs) are informed, the user equipment may be informed of which part of the PRBs is actually allocated to the user equipment via a sequence indicating a PRB index in a scheduling command transmitted to the user equipment.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in a case of N_(D)=2, the PRBs are divided into two groups in view of time and the two groups are allocated to different DVRBs. A rule that the index of a first PRB group transmitted via a scheduling command indicates an early (or late) part and the index of a second PRB group indicates a late (or early) part in view of time may be decided.

Similarly, even when the PRBs are divided into two groups in view of the frequency or the like, a predefined sequence of parts of a PRB may be mapped to a PRB index sequence of the scheduling command. This is applicable to a case that N_(D) is larger than 2. In this case, in particular, in a case that only one DVRB is restricted to be allocated to one user equipment, information for scheduling the allocation of an actual physical time-frequency resource of the DVRB to the user equipment may be constructed by only the indexes of the PRBs constructing the DVRB (or information of any format which can sequentially indicate the indexes of the PRBs).

DVRB information 61 indicating DVRBs via which data is actually transmitted/received to/from the user equipment, among the DVRB which are estimated via the PRB information for the DVRB 60, is informed together with the PRE information for the DVRB 60. The DVRB information may be constructed in a form directly identifying the DVRBs. For example, the DVRB information may become index information of the DVRBs via which the data is transmitted/received to/from the user equipment.

The DVRB information may be constructed so as to identify first DVRB information and information indicating via how many DVRB the data is transmitted/received to/from the user equipment. In order to inform the first DVRB information, it is assumed that the indexes are allocated to the DVRBs according to a predetermined rule. Information about the number of DVRBs via which the data is transmitted/received may be replaced with the amounts of REs used for transmission/reception of the data.

For example, it is assumed that scheduling is performed according to the DVRB construction method shown in FIG. 5. That is, it is assumed that four DVRBs are constructed using a total of four PRBs and the transmission/reception of the data to/from the user equipment is performed via the DVRB having a DVRB index of 4.

In this case, the PRB information for the DVRB 60 may become the index information of the PRBs and the bitmap information for identifying the PRBs as described above. If the index information is transmitted, the index information allocated to first, second, fifth and seventh PRBs of FIG. 5 is transmitted. At this time, as described above, when it is assumed that N_(max)=6 PRBs can be used as a maximum, the index of any PRB or a specific PRB of the first, second, fifth, and seventh PRBs may be repeated and transmitted using the remaining bits of two remaining PRB indexes. If the bitmap information is transmitted, the bitmap bits of the first, second, fifth and the seventh PRBs are, for example, set to 1 and are transmitted such that it is indicated that the transmission/reception of the data is performed.

In a case that the DVRB information 61 is constructed in a manner of directly indicating the DVRBs, information corresponding to the DVRB index information of 4 is transmitted. In a case that the DVRB information 61 is constructed by the first DVRB information among the DVRBs via which the data is transmitted/received to/from the user equipment and the information for informing the user equipment of via how many DVRBs the data is transmitted/received, information corresponding to one DVRB and the DVRB index information of 4 is transmitted.

A base station scheduler freely selects PRBs in each subframe and constructs the DVRB using the above-described method such that the FDS transmission method and the FSS transmission method are freely multiplexed.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of a method for constructing a DVRB according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the construction of the PRBs used for DVRB transmission and the DVRB using the PRBs are actually decided according to the number of PRBs for the DVRB used for the transmission/reception of the DVRB method and the numerals are allocated to the decided DVRBs according to a predetermined rule.

For example, at an upper side of FIG. 8, if the number of PRBs for DVRB used for the DVRB transmission/reception is two, the PRBs used for the DVRB transmission are the first and fifth PRBs and the REs in each PRB are divided into two groups and the indexes 1 and 2 are sequentially allocated to the two groups. The RE groups, to which the same index is allocated in each PRB, are combined so as to construct a DVRB.

Similarly, at a lower side of FIG. 8, if the number of PRBs for the DVRB used for the DVRB transmission/reception is 4, the PRBs used for the DVRB transmission are the first, third, fifth and seventh PRBs and the REs in each PRB are divided into four groups and the indexes 1, 2, 3 and 4 are sequentially allocated to the four groups. The RE groups, to which the same index is allocated in each PRB, are combined so as to construct a DVRB.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of a scheduling information construction method with respect to scheduling using a DVRB according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As described with respect to FIG. 8, in a case where a method for deciding the PRB and DVRB construction used for the DVRB transmission/reception method according to the total number of PRBs for the DVRB used for the DVRB transmission/reception method in a subframe is used, the scheduling information which can be transmitted by the base station will be described. In this case, in the present embodiment, in a case that the base station transmits/receives the data to/from any user equipment in any subframe, a method for informing the user equipment of the following information is suggested. That is, FIG. 9 shows the scheduling information for a user equipment.

The base station informs the user equipment of the total number of PRBs for the DVRB 80 used for the DVRB transmission/reception method in any subframe. Here, the total number of PRBs for the DVRB may be replaced with the total number of DVRBs. As described above, if the total number of PRBs for DVRB 80 used for the DVRB transmission/reception method is known, the user equipment can know the construction of the PRBs used for the DVRB transmission and the DVRB using the PRBs.

The DVRB information used for the transmission/reception of the data to/from the user equipment is transmitted. If a rule that the data is transmitted/received via the DVRBs having the consecutive numerals is applied to a user equipment, the base station informs the user equipment which transmits/receives the data via the DVRBs of an index of a start DVRB 81 and the number of DVRB 82 so as to inform the user equipment of the DVRBs via which the data is transmitted/received. Here, the number of DVRBs 82 may be replaced with the amount of REs.

For example, it is assumed that the scheduling is performed according to the DVRB construction method shown at the lower side of FIG. 8. That is, if the number of PRBs for the DVRB used for the DVRB transmission/reception method is 4, the PRBs used for the DVRB transmission are first, third, fifth and seventh PRBs, the REs in each PRB are divided into four groups and the indexes 1, 2, 3 and 4 are sequentially allocated to the four groups. It is assumed that the RE groups, to which the same index is allocated in each PRB, are combined so as to construct a DVRB.

In this case, the total number of PRBs 80 used for the DVRB transmission/reception method is 4. A receiver receives the total number of PRBs for the DVRB 80 of 4, which is used for the DVRB transmission/reception method, and knows that the DVRB is constructed as shown at the lower side in FIG. 8. In the case that the DVRB information is constructed in a manner of directly indicating the DVRBs, the information corresponding to the DVRB index information of 4 is transmitted. When the start DVRB index 81 and the number of DVRBs 82 are transmitted as the DVRBs via which the data is transmitted/received to/from the user equipment, the information corresponding to a DVRB and the DVRB index information of 4 is transmitted. The receiver receives the information and knows that the data is transmitted/received using a DVRB having the DVRB index of 4.

By the above-described method, a base station scheduler freely selects PRBs in each subframe and constructs the DVRB such that the FDS transmission method and the FSS transmission method are freely multiplexed.

In more detail, in the above-described embodiment, the user equipments which transmit/receive the data via the DVRBs may be informed of the total number of PRBs for the DVRB 80 used for the DVRB transmission/reception method via a control channel for transmitting the scheduling information to the user equipments. When the total number of PRBs for the DVRB 80 used for the DVRB transmission/reception method is transmitted to the user equipments which transmit/receive the data via the DVRBs, bits for transmitting this information do not need to be added.

The user equipments cannot know whether the group scheduling information or bitmap scheduling information is transmitted via the LVRB or whether DVRB scheduling information is transmitted, before decoding and reading a downlink control channel for transmitting the scheduling information. Accordingly, it is efficient that the downlink control channel for transmitting this information is constructed by applying the same encoding to the same number of bits, regardless of the scheduling method. That is, it is preferable that information indicating which scheduling method is applied is included in the information bits indicating the scheduling information and information which should be indicated by the scheduling method is included in the remaining part.

At this time, since the part-bitmap scheduling information or the group scheduling information via the LVRB indicates the LVRBs via which the data is transmitted/received by a bitmap method, if the number of LVRBs in the subframe is large, a large bit number is required. For example, in a case that 48 LVRBs are divided into 3 LVRB groups so as to construct group scheduling information, 16 bits are necessary for indicating the LVRB group for transmitting/receiving the data. That is, the scheduling information should be transmitted via at least 16 bits.

In the DVRB scheduling method suggested by the present invention, since only a first DVRB index for performing data transmission/reception and the number of DVRBs via which the data is transmitted/received to/from the user equipment are informed, only 12 bits are required as a maximum. Accordingly, since at least 16 bits are required for the scheduling information transmission via the LVRB, although the total number of PRBs used for the DVRB transmission/reception method is added, the downlink resource used for the control channel for transmitting the scheduling information is not increased or is decreased.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of a method for constructing different DVRBs with respect to cells according to an embodiment of the present invention.

If a DVRB construction method which is equally defined by every cell is applied to a cellular system, a probability that the REs in a specific DVRB allocated to the data transmission of a user equipment are completely matched to the REs in a specific DVRB allocated to the data transmission of another user equipment of a neighboring cell is very high. In this case, in particular, in a case that the two user equipments of the neighboring cells having the same DVRB allocated to the data transmission are close to each other, relatively high interference may occur compared with other user equipments. Accordingly, in order to avoid the case where the REs in a specific DVRB of one cell are completely matched to the REs in a specific DVRB of another cell, randomization of the REs in the specific DVRB is required.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, in order to randomize the REs allocated to the DVRBs in different cells, a method for differently defining the relative position of the subcarrier, the position of the OFDM symbol or the position of the RE in the PRB for the DVRB in each cell is suggested.

FIG. 10 shows an example of setting the position for mapping the RE to any DVRB using different interleaving methods in two cells in the unit of an RE. That is, indexes 1 to 20 are allocated to 20 REs included in each PRB for the DVRB used for the DVRB transmission. Interleaving or shifting is performed with respect to the 20 REs included in each PRB for the DVRB. The positions of the REs for the RE index varies according to the cells.

In other words, although the RE having the same index is allocated to the DVRB according to the cells, the positions of the physical subcarriers or the OFDM symbols may be different from each other. The interleaving or shifting rule used at this time can more efficiently perform randomization if a cell ID is input. In the interleaving or shifting rule, a random sequence may be input together with or independent of the cell ID.

The interleaving operation or the shifting operation may be performed in the unit of an RE or the unit of an RE group. For example, the interleaving operation or the shifting operation may be performed in the unit of an RE belonging to the same subcarrier or the unit of an RE belonging the same OFDM symbol. In addition, the interleaving operation or the shifting operation may be performed over all the PRBs allocated to the DVRB transmission or some PRBs in a subframe as well as each PRB.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of a PRB selection method used for transmission of different DVRBs with respect to cells according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, in order to randomize interference between neighboring cells for the REs allocated to the DVRB and prevent the interference between the PRBs allocated to the DVRB from occurring between the neighboring cells, a method for changing the selection of the PRB for the DVRB allocated to the DVRB transmission in the subframe is provided.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a method for changing the selection of the PRB for the DVRB allocated to the DVRB transmission in the subframe. For example, the DVRB is constructed using the first, fourth and seventh PRBs in a cell 1, but the DVRB is constructed using the second, fifth and eighth PRBs in a cell 2 unlike the cell 1.

In order to change the selection of the PRB for the DVRB allocated to the DVRB transmission in each cell, different shifting or interleaving operation can be used with respect to the PRB index. In the shifting or interleaving rule used at this time, for example, a cell ID or a predetermined random sequence may be input, similar to the randomization of the RE position.

Among the methods for transmitting the data, in the FSS method, since the data is transmitted using consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain, it is preferable that the data is transmitted using the LVRB. Among the methods for transmitting the data, in the FDS method, it is preferable that the data is transmitted using the DVRB in order to transmit the data using the inconsecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a method for multiplexing transmission using a DVRB and transmission using a LVRB in a subframe and transmitting the multiplexed signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, it is preferable that the transmission using the DVRB and the transmission using the LVRB are multiplexed in a subframe. In particular, a method for deciding the position and the number of PRBs (hereinafter, referred to as DPRB) used for the DVRB transmission method by the number of DVRBs transmitted actually similar to the above-described method and directly/indirectly informing the user equipments in the cell of this information is applied to the DVRB transmission. If scheduling using the LVRB group is applied before the LVRB scheduling, a part of PRBs constructing any LVRB group in any subframe may be allocated to the DVRB transmission.

For example, referring to FIG. 12, 48 PRBs exist in a subframe and three PRBs are combined so as to construct a LVRB group. Thus, 16 LVRB groups exist. At this time, if PRBs represented by “*” are allocated to the DVRB, second, sixth, tenth and fifteenth LVRB groups collide with the DVRB transmission at the time of LVRB group transmission.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, in a case that a part of any LVRB group is used for the DVRB transmission to any user equipment, a method for transmitting the data transmitted to another user equipment via the LVRB group using only the LVRB which is not used for the DVRB transmission is suggested. That is, in the example of FIG. 12, if the data is transmitted to any user equipment via the second LVRB group by the LVRB group scheduling, the LVRB transmission can be performed with respect to the user equipment via two remaining PRBs excluding the first PRB used for the DVRB transmission among three PRBs in the second LVRB group, that is, the PRBs represented by “#”.

In a case that the PRB used for the DVRB transmission among the PRBs constructing the LVRB group is present when the scheduling information indicating that the data is received via a specific LVRB group is received, the user equipment determines that the data is not received via the PRB and receives the data which is transmitted via the LVRB with respect to the remaining PRBs.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

That is, the present patent is not limited to the embodiments described herein and should be interpreted to have the widest range according to the principles and features disclosed herein.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to a mobile communication system, a cellular mobile communication system and a cellular multiplexing carrier system. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A user equipment for use in a mobile communication system, the user equipment comprising: a receiver; and a controller, wherein the receiver is configured to: receive control information including a first field and a second field via a control channel, the first field indicating one of N (N≧2) resource block group (RBG) sets and the second field including a bitmap, wherein each bit of the bitmap is used to indicate whether a corresponding resource block (RB) in the indicated one of the N RBG sets is allocated; wherein the controller is configured to interpret the first field and the second field for resource allocation in the control information; wherein the receiver is further configured to receive data using the control information; and wherein an RBG set n (0≦n<N) comprises every N_(th) RBG starting from n_(th) RBG, an RBG comprises one or more consecutive RBs, and an RB comprises a plurality of consecutive subcarriers.
 2. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein a number of RBs in each RBG depends on a total number of RBs.
 3. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein a number of the N RBG sets is the same as a number of RBs in each RBG.
 4. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein a number of RBs in an RBG set is the same as a total number of RBGs.
 5. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the RBG comprises N consecutive RBs.
 6. A method for transmitting data by a base station in a mobile communication system, the method comprising: transmitting control information including a first field and a second field via a control channel, the first field indicating one of N (N≧2) resource block group (RBG) sets and the second field including a bitmap, wherein each bit of the bitmap is used to indicate whether a corresponding resource block (RB) in the indicated one of the N RBG sets is allocated; and transmitting the data using the control information, wherein an RBG set n (0≦n<N) comprises every N_(th) RBG starting from n_(th) RBG, an RBG comprises one or more consecutive RBs, and an RB comprises a plurality of consecutive subcarriers.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein a number of RBs in each RBG depends on a total number of RBs.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein a number of the N RBG sets is the same as a number of RBs in each RBG.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein a number of RBs in an RBG set is the same as a total number of RBGs.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the RBG comprises N consecutive RBs.
 11. A base station for use in a mobile communication system, the base station comprising: a transmitter configured to: transmit control information including a first field and a second field via a control channel, the first field indicating one of N (N≧2) resource block group (RBG) sets and the second field including a bitmap, wherein each bit of the bitmap is used to indicate whether a corresponding resource block (RB) in the indicated one of the N RBG sets is allocated; and transmit data using the control information, wherein an RBG set n (0≦n<N) comprises every N_(th) RBG starting from n_(th) RBG, an RBG comprises one or more consecutive RBs, and an RB comprises a plurality of consecutive subcarriers.
 12. The base station of claim 11, wherein a number of RBs in each RBG depends on a total number of RBs.
 13. The base station of claim 11, wherein a number of the N RBG sets is the same as a number of RBs in each RBG.
 14. The base station of claim 11, wherein a number of RBs in an RBG set is the same as a total number of RBGs.
 15. The base station of claim 11, wherein the RBG comprises N consecutive RBs. 